Sir John Major and George HW Bush sent 'love letters' during 'rocky' times

Sir John Majorand George Bush senior sent each other 'love letters' and confided in one another during "rocky" times, archival records have revealed.

In November 1992 the American President told Sir John "I sent you a love letter yesterday", as he inquired if it had arrived in Downing Street.

The letter was written in response to a speech delivered by the former Prime Minister in which he strongly praised Mr Bush, who then told Sir John "you were very sweet".

President George HW Bush left shares a laugh with former British Prime MinisterCredit:
DAVE MARTIN/ AP

Records of the leader's phone calls were obtained by the BBC via a freedom of information request to the George Bush senior presidential library.

In October 1992, as Britain left the European exchange rate mechanism, the President asked:"How are things at home?", to which Sir John replied: "I've never known them to be so rocky, so testy, so bitter and unpleasant".

The Prime Minister added that "we've even had a seedy sex scandal that's run and run in the press" and "I have the party conference next week, which will not be a barrel of laughs".

President George Bush chats with British Prime Minister John Major during a meeting Credit:
Susan Biddle/ Reuters

The two men shared a brief period in power, from Sir John took succeeded Margaret Thatcher in November 1990, to when Mr Bush left office in January 1993.

The records show the leaders sympathize with one another over political divisions at home.

"It's been a miserable five months here campaigning", President Bush said in March 1992 to Prime Minister Major, who replied "It's been miserable here too".

The transcripts reveal Sir John Major told Mr Bush that he had walkabouts which "were really nasty and ugly" and the crowds were "horrendous".

Sir John Major (centre) arrives at St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar SquareCredit:
Jonathan Brady/PA

He also gave the president his disgruntled view of the British media, that "the Conservative press here has been bloody" and "haven't been reporting our policy", while "the BBC has been appalling too", adding that "for what is supposed to be a public television service, it is not impartial at all".

Mr Bush told Sir John in March 1992, shortly before the latter faced the Labour leader Neil Kinnock in a general election: "Obviously we're rooting for you, and it's very important that you win. You're ahead of Kinnock in the polls, right? That should help."